Wealth of Nations

What is the “invisible hand” and what role does it play in the economy?

  • The “invisible hand” played a key role in directing the industry to benefit him promoting an end which was no part of his intention. Invisible hand is the nature of the economy that is self regulating. The rest of the populace follows this invisible hand, which eventually adds to the community benefits, he intends only his own gain.

 

According to Smith, why should government not get involved in the economy?

  • The government, Smith says, should not be involved in the economy because they will simply acquire the greatest benefit of all of the taxes paid and the imports/exports. The statesman who try to help these confidential citizens in what way they should utilize their capitals. If a government tries to run its’ citizens, it will benefit no one seeing as it causes a rapid decrease in pace for the progress to wealth.

 

The ideas and values of what other enlightenment thinkers are evident in this excerpt?

  • Smith’s argument mainly shows the ideology of Jean Jacques Rousseau who allegedly saw everyone having common rights leading to a common good.

 

What is the division of labor and how does it make production more efficient?

  • Division of labor displays when the workers are separated to the designated tasks to aid the productivities increase. By only focusing in one job, the workers do not lose time for productivity while switching tasks, seeing as they only have one specialized duty which makes the production more well-organized and beneficiary.

 

How does Smith illustrate the division of labor through the pin factory?

  • Someone who is exceedingly more educated is able to maintain a higher position in a jobs ranking than one who did not receive the proper education throughout their years. Also, Smith separates the job to generate a pin to eighteen diverse responsibilities. This splitting up of labor while another can make up for a loss of time by doing another task which then reverts back to aiding the first.

 

How is the pin factory’s increase in productivity evident as a result of the division of labor?

  • It shows that they only hired more intelligent people who specialized in a certain field creating a more reliable work force. When people are given tasks and it is the only job they have to focus on, it generally aids the productivity.

 

 What is the relationship between the division of labor and the skill of the worker?

  • It shows that they only hired people who specialized in a certain field creating a more reliable work force.
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